Barbara+Fanning+LMF+Analysis

//Learning Motivation and Fun//
//In this exercise, you'll collect data from our database of interviews about fun and learning. Use this template and the data to create 5 generalizations for what you observed. Your generalizations should answer the questions//
 * //What makes learning fun and engaging?//
 * //What are the implications for your own teaching and design work//

**1) High school girls in an academic setting indicated that learning experiences were fun for two different reasons.**
Of the videos included in the LMF stories, six of the stories included a high school academic experience by girls between the ages of 10-19. ToryTrust102 and Avni114 reported that they highly enjoyed a Project Based Learning Experience that allowed them to work with a group of peers and explore a subject matter and complete a project accordingly.

For example, Tory worked on a project in Physics that had her and a group of her peers work to build a car that they would then enter into a competition. Sue85, Denise170 and Anna109 reported that having a dynamic, interactive and as Sue said, an eccentric teacher made a difference in their learning and allowed them to find the course fun and interesting. Cathy63 reported a scenario that was fun for both reasons. Cathy indicated that her work as a student teacher in high school was fun because it not only allowed her to participate and learn but the instructor was also very engaging.

**2) High school boys in an academic setting primarily indicated that interactive learning experiences were fun and memorable.**
Of the videos included in the LMF stories, eight of the stories included a high school academic experience by boys between the ages of 10-19. The stories reviewed included Chris171, Jim30, John82, John96, Kim164, Kyle157, RobertChau150 and RobertReyes197. All except Robert Reyes focused on the reason a learning experience was fun and memorable was that it included an interactive experience. For example, Chris171 found that pretending to be a math detective helped him master Geometry and John82 used role-playing in history class to remember a trial. Robert Reyes indicated that his learning experiences were memorable not only because they included interactive such as tracking a stock for economics class but also because the teacher was interesting and engaging.

**3) High school Language students report that interactive teaching strategies help them in their recall and retention.**
Of the videos in the LMF stories, fourteen of them included high school experiences and three included experiences in a language class. All three interviewees expressed that a learning experience was positive and fun due to the addition of interactive and project learning.

For example Denise170 reported that her English teacher made learning SAT vocabulary words fun and memorable by engaging students in a daily vocabulary bee; Kyle157 was able to remember his Spanish vocabulary words after participating in skits in which they acted out the meaning of the words; and RobertChau150 found learning Spanish fun and memorable after being tasked with producing a music video in Spanish in which they needed to act out the lyrics of the song and then translate the lyrics into English.

**4) Enthusiasm plays an important role in career related learning and training.**
Of the videos in the LMF stories, twenty-three focused on career-related topics with seventeen of those indicating a high level of Enthusiasm, two indicated medium and one indicated low. These results demonstrate that the majority LMF participants found that career-related learning is more fun and memorable when you are enthusiastic about the subject.

For example, Beatrix51 felt that her learning experience was positive due to the overall goal oriented environment and her interest in the subject and task at hand; Shawn117 was interested in the subject of boat flooding as a US Coast Guard Sailor because his life would depend on it; and Christina80 was interested in the training for TRX fitness boot camp because it not only was something she could add to her personal fitness routine but also incorporate it in her job as a personal trainer.

** 5) Interactive learning and engaging instructors find their place among career training experiences. **
As part of the previous review that showed a correlation between enthusiasm for a subject and positive career training outcomes it became apparent that learners reported a positive experience based on the course content as well.

For example, Lisa51 indicated that her learning experience was positive due to the high level of interactivity and engagement in the training; Shawn117 found the hands on experience of a simulated sinking boat to be invaluable to his understanding of the topic; heybison88 found that being able to experience the use of graphic design and printing equipment sealed his fate to becoming a graphic designer; and Christina80 found that being part of the TRX boot camp was key in her understanding and being able to use this information in her career. Christina80 also reported the experience being positive based on the instructors energy and ability to engage the students.